how do you remove shortcut arrow from desktop icon

Anonymous
2011-01-18T14:51:03+00:00

i have win7 pro 64bit .....and i want to remove shortcut arrow from desktop icon....plz can u suggest me how to do it.....which registry have to be deleted?

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Anonymous
2012-02-09T17:39:38+00:00

On Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:51:03 +0000, bigyan adhikari wrote:

i have win7 pro 64bit .....and i want to remove shortcut arrow from desktop icon....plz can u suggest me how to do it.....which registry have to be deleted?

Although it's possible to remove the arrow, my recommendation is that

you do not do this. The arrows serve an important

function--providing quick visual identification of a shortcut. If you

remove the arrows, you run the substantial risk that sooner or later

you will delete something you wanted to keep, thinking that you were

just deleting a shortcut to it. I would leave the arrows as they are.

Ken Blake (MS MVP)

I think there are valid situations for this.  I would like to remove the arrow for shortcuts on the Desktop that I keep to certain folders.  I have file extensions on and don't keep installers on the Desktop, so I don't see the harm in removing the arrow from my "Documents" shortcut.  I won't ever think Documents is actually stored on the Desktop.  And if anything, it would only make me more hesitant to delete a shortcut, not more likely to delete a real folder.  I wouldn't advocate removing the arrow systemwide, but it would be useful for specific Desktop icons.  This is obviously the case, because Microsoft decided to remove the arrow for the "User's Files" folder added through the "Desktop Icon Settings" panel.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-07-30T17:25:22+00:00

    i have win7 pro 64bit .....and i want to remove shortcut arrow from desktop icon....plz can u suggest me how to do it.....which registry have to be deleted?

    Bigyan all you have to do is this: go to http://www.thewindowsclub.com/ultimate-windows-tweaker-v2-a-tweak-ui-for-windows-7-vista. If you have Windows 8, 8.1, or 10 go to the same website and download then install the same program but instead of version 2 download version 3.1 for Windows 8, 8.1, or 10. After you've installed Windows Tweaker do the following...1. Launch Ultimate Windows Tweaker. 2. Highlight then click "Customization." 3. After you click "Customization" you will see several tabs. Click the tab that says "File Explorer." After you click the File Explorer tab you will see a button that says "Remove Shortcut Arrows From Shortcut Icons." Click that button then click "Apply" afterwards. After you click Apply you will get the prompt telling you to restart your computer. Go ahead and restart your computer and you're all set.

    Advice to all here: I strongly suggest you download and use registry programs such as CCCleaner or AVG PC Tuneup that will clean and defragment your registry. This Ultimate Windows Tweaker Program really works. I know firsthand because I have it and it even works on Windows 10 which I have too. I strongly suggest you leave the registry alone if you're not sure or if you don't know what you are doing when editing a registry entry. Editing a registry entry is very tricky and even if you know what you are doing make sure you back up the original entry in case something goes wrong otherwise leave it alone.

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  2. LemP 74,985 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2015-04-21T17:19:32+00:00

    @NZCole --

    You've replied to a 4-year-old thread and also haven't provided enough information for anyone to assist you.  We have no idea what "the arrow" or "it" or "this shortcut" refers to. 

    More detail, including a screenshot, would help us help you.

    Assuming you have Windows 7 (you posted in the Windows 7 forum), type "Snipping Tool" (without quotes) in the Start search box and press enter.  Use the Snipping Tool to create and save a jpg of the shortcut that your are having problems and then click on the "picture" icon (second from right) on the toolbar in the Reply window to upload your image.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-04-21T15:01:48+00:00

    I click on the arrow, apparently a shortcut, with no response.  What is it a shortcut to? The idea that there are dire consequences to removing shortcuts is mildly amusing. This arrow , shortcut,  cannot be placed where it want it , out of the way, like the others. I don't know what is special about this shortcut but it is a major nuisance because it does nothing and is fixed in it's position. I need to know how to remove it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-02-11T17:06:46+00:00

    So, have you two install the software that makes it possible to remove the arrows or not ?

    There are plenty of options other than the ones already mentioned. It only requires a quick

    search.

    The short-cut arrow is not something new with Win7. It was there with XP and Vista as well,

    and to get rid of it you still needed to either do a registry hack or use a software that does it for you.

    Monopoly$oft is not going to do it. They don't make any big changes once they release an OS.

    Check out all the threads complaining about the inability to disable auto arrange in folders.

    There were so many responses to an early thread they locked it.

    Many unhappy campers complaints falling on the deaf ears of developers in the MS Ivory Tower.

    Keep in mind that responses in these forums are not always directed at the knowledgeable.

    There are a lot of people who read these threads, and posters who will often identify themselves

    as computer illiterate. Others leave it to the people who respond to guess their level of knowledge.

    This is a community forum. There are no Monopoly$oft employees here, so a comparison with a

    car dealership is erroneous.

    btw - I too only use short-cuts w/o arrows on the desktop and pin all my commonly used

    folders to the Windows Explorer icon on the taskbar, but you can bet a lot of people will put

     a folder on the desktop.

    .

    Does no one here have the common courtesy to actually answer the bloody question?

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